Iceland’s bourgeoning cruise industry: An economic opportunity or a local threat?

The cruise industry is the fastest growing component of mass tourism and is as a key contributor to overtourism. The cruise industry is having a very significant impact on the country of Iceland, as cruises take people to some of the country’s most remote areas. In Iceland, the increase has been even more dramatic, with cruise ship arrivals increasing by over 91% (between 2015 and 2019) in Iceland’s small northern town of Akureyri and its surrounding ports. This paper is critical of the expansion of cruise tourism in Iceland despite the potential economic impacts of cruise ship tourism. Scholars argue is the need to consider economic gains alongside environmental costs and social consequences that disrupt communities. This in perspective paper considers current economic, environmental and social impacts of cruise ship arrivals in Iceland before outlining some recommendations that align with environmentally friendly practices for policy makers to consider going forward. The triple bottom line framework is widely considered in tourism planning, and this paper seeks to connect the economic, social and environmental dimensions of tourism in a sustainable way to look at the present situation in Iceland and address policy considerations going forward

Development of Anti-Fouling, Anti-Microbial Membranes by Chemical Patterning

Over 1 billion people lack access to clean drinking water. Membranes are a tool that can help provide clean water to these people. However, treatment of impaired waters for beneficial use exposes the membranes to feed waters containing biological and abiotic species, which leads to fouling and loss of membrane productivity over time. Since reduction in flux due to fouling is one of the largest costs associated with membrane processes in water treatment, new coatings that limit fouling would have significant economic and societal impacts. Developing these advanced coatings is the focus of our work

Development of Anti-Fouling, Anti-Microbial Membranes by Chemical Patterning

Membranes are a tool that can help provide clean water to people. However, treatment of impaired waters exposes the membranes to feed waters containing biological and abiotic species, which leads to fouling and loss of membrane productivity over time. Since flux reduction due to fouling is one of the largest costs associated with membrane processes in water treatment, new coatings that limit fouling would have significant economic and societal impacts. Prior studies in this area largely have focused on chemical modifications to the membrane surface, which can be effective but not sufficient for controlling biofouling. A more recent area of research is nano-patterning the membrane surface, inspired by nature (i.e., shark skin). Our hypothesis is combining these two methods (chemical coating and patterning) will yield membrane surfaces that are more effective at biofouling control than either method alone. We will introduce the methodology used to coat membrane surfaces with polymer nanolayers designed to combat biofouling and the methodology used to pattern membrane surfaces. We will explain the chemical switching mechanism and use FTIR to support the reversible switching of the polymer nanolayer between its antifouling and antimicrobial states. We will demonstrate the feasibility of the patterning methodology through AFM

Lunar hand tools

Tools useful for operations and maintenance tasks on the lunar surface were determined and designed. Primary constraints are the lunar environment, the astronaut's space suit and the strength limits of the astronaut on the moon. A multipurpose rotary motion tool and a collapsible tool carrier were designed. For the rotary tool, a brushless motor and controls were specified, a material for the housing was chosen, bearings and lubrication were recommended and a planetary reduction gear attachment was designed. The tool carrier was designed primarily for ease of access to the tools and fasteners. A material was selected and structural analysis was performed on the carrier. Recommendations were made about the limitations of human performance and about possible attachments to the torque driver

Relationship of the Frequency, Distribution, and Content of Meals/Snacks to Glycaemic Control in Gestational Diabetes: The myfood24 GDM Pilot Study

This study examines nutritional intakes in Gestational diabetes mellitus piloting the myfood24 tool, to explore frequency of meals/snacks, and daily distribution of calories and carbohydrates in relation to glycaemic control. A total of 200 women aged 20–43 years were recruited into this prospective observational study between February 2015 and February 2016. Diet was assessed using myfood24, a novel online 24-h dietary recall tool. Out of 200 women 102 completed both ≥1 dietary recalls and all blood glucose measurements. Blood glucose was self-measured as part of usual care. Differences between groups meeting and exceeding glucose targets in relation to frequency of meal/snack consumption and nutrients were assessed using chi-squared and Mann–Whitney tests. Women achieving a fasting glucose target <5.3 mmol/L, compared to those exceeding it, consumed three meals (92% vs. 78%: p = 0.04) and three snacks (10% vs. 4%: p = 0.06) per day, compared with two or less; and in relation to evening snacks, consumed a higher percentage of daily energy (6% vs. 5%: p = 0.03) and carbohydrates (8% vs. 6%: p = 0.01). Achieving glycaemic control throughout the day was positively associated with snacking (p = 0.008). Achieving glucose targets was associated with having more snacks across the day, and may be associated with frequency and distribution of meals and nutrients. A larger study is required to confirm this

Numerical solution of nonlinear fin problems via initial value method

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/23347/1/0000290.pd

Lessons from a year of COVID-19 in Zambia: reported attendance and mask wearing at large gatherings in rural communities

Zambia instituted prevention behavior guidelines for social gatherings before the first case of COVID-19 was confirmed on March 18, 2020. Guidelines included nonpharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) including mask wearing, social distancing, and reducing sizes of gatherings. Within a larger cluster randomized trial of community-based parenting groups in four rural districts (three in Southern Province, one in Eastern Province), we collected 5,711 questionnaires from intervention participants between August 2020 and September 2021, during which the country saw two COVID-19 waves. Questionnaires asked about participation and behaviors at community gatherings. Generally, perception of risk of contracting COVID-19 was low for respondents in districts in Southern Province but higher for those in Eastern Province. The highest compliance to mask wearing was reported at clinics (84%) and church services (81%), which were the most frequently attended gatherings. Many funerals were attended by 200 to 300 people, but individuals were 30% less likely to report wearing masks (odds ratio [OR] = 0.71, 95% confidence ratio [CI]: 0.6-0.8) than those attending a clinic visit. After controlling for other variables, the odds of self-reported mask wearing at events were higher in January to March 2021 (adjusted OR = 1.5, 95% CI: 1.3, 1.7) and July and September of 2021 (adjusted OR = 3.0, 95% CI: 2.5-3.5), timepoints that broadly overlay with two COVID-19 peaks observed in Zambia. Results suggest guideline dissemination penetrated the rural areas. However, there is need to optimize the messaging to increase compliance to NPIs at high-risk gatherings, including funerals. The findings from this analysis should be considered as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to evolve